The Big 4 of Retirement Concerns

Retirement can be a relaxing and satisfying stage of life, though it does come with challenges. Facing them can provoke anxiety, even if you’ve been planning and saving for years.

Better Money Habits walks you through the top four financial concerns about retirement, according to a 2015 survey by Bankrate.com. By laying a simple financial groundwork now, you can rest easier knowing that your transition to retirement will be less stressful. Your biggest worry could end up being, “What am I supposed to do with all my new free time?” rather than “What if I outlive the money I’ve saved up?”

1. Paying for health care

Americans are most concerned about financing health care costs in retirement. According to the survey, 28 percent of people are worried their medical expenses will be too high. Fidelity estimates that a healthy, 65-year-old couple retiring in 2017 will spend $275,000 on health care costs. For most Americans, that could easily disrupt any retirement budget plan.

Today, nearly 25 percent of all 65-year-olds will live to age 90, according to the Social Security Administration. Almost as many worry that they will outlive their money, according to the Bankrate survey.

What to do about it: You can alleviate some anxiety surrounding retirement by estimating how much you need to save to cover a long retirement. Start by looking at your current expenses and living standards, and use that as your baseline. Then consider how you expect your standard of living to change in retirement, if at all. Once you have an estimate of how much total savings you’ll need for retirement, you can start constructing a savings schedule. For more tips on retirement planning, read this blog by Kevin Driscoll of the Navy Federal Financial Group.

3. Maintaining an income stream

According to the Bankrate survey, 18 percent of Americans are worried they won’t be able to afford day-to-day expenses in retirement. They aren’t confident that Social Security income will be enough to cover some expenses, or that it will even be still exist.

What to do about it: While planning for retirement, keep in mind that working for even just a few more years or working part-time in retirement may help postpone drawing income from Social Security and savings while taking advantage of available pensions and benefits. Read what it means to “Rethink Retirement,” as discussed by the president of the Insured Retirement Institute, and how to consider holistic retirement plans.

4. Having too much debt

Seventeen percent of U.S. adults are concerned they won’t be able to make minimum payments on credit cards in retirement. According to data in the 2017 New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel, the average 67-year-old in 2015 had 169 percent more debt than in 2003. Debt increased by roughly 60 percent for all borrowers between 50 and 80 years old.

What to do about it: While debt can easily feel overwhelming, there are a multitude of strategies to paying it off. Check out these top two tried and true methods, and don’t forget to create a budget that includes debt payments if you haven’t already!

Putting time toward planning for retirement now will have big rewards later on down the road. Let America Saves help you toward your goal of saving for retirement! It all starts when you make a commitment to yourself to save, which you can do today by taking the America Saves pledge to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth over time. And it doesn’t stop there. America Saves will keep you motivated with information, advice, tips, and reminders to help you reach your savings goal. Think of us as your own personal support system.

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Tip of the Day

Written by Tammy G. Bruzon | February 2, 2018

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Mary Brown was already a disciplined individual when she came to Wisconsin Saves coordinator Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) in last summer. She had successfully completed her bachelor’s degree with the assistance of her husband and son, and was now ready to tackle her next big dream – homeownership.

Nicky Vasquez learned about Virginia Saves when she attended her first class with Bank On Virginia Beach. The instructor shared how important it was to have a written savings goal, and the entire class joined Virginia Saves as the first step toward financial fitness.